Joystiqhttp://www.joystiq.com
Joystiqhttp://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gifJoystiqhttp://www.joystiq.com
en-usCopyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/20/kickstarted-sword-fighter-clang-pauses-development-seeks-furthe/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/20/kickstarted-sword-fighter-clang-pauses-development-seeks-furthe/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/20/kickstarted-sword-fighter-clang-pauses-development-seeks-furthe/#comments
Developer Subutai Corporation rececntly announced that it has "hit the pause button" on the development of Clang. The project earned $526,125 on Kickstarter in July 2012, though it has apparently run out of resources in the meantime, leading the developer to focus on luring investors to fund the rest of its development.

Project lead and sci-fi novelist Neal Stephenson explained in the update on the game's Kickstarter page that Subutai Corporation "stretched the Kickstarter money farther than we had expected to, but securing the next round, along with constructing improvised shelters and hoarding beans, has to be our top priority for now." Stephenson said the plan to further fund the project outside of Kickstarter was in the cards all along, citing the team's plan to build a "functional proof of concept in the form of an exciting prototype" in order to "achieve our next level of funding" in the project's description. Numerous backers questioned the direction of the project, noting the description didn't make the developer's aspirations for additional funding particularly clear at the outset.

To risk-averse publishers, Stephenson said that the sword-fighting simulator "seems extra worrisome because it is coupled to a new hardware controller." Clang uses controllers like Sixense's Razer Hydra motion controller and the STEM system, the latter having been successfully funded on Kickstarter and has three weeks left in its campaign.

While the PC game can be played with a mouse and keyboard, Stephenson endorsed Sixense's Kickstarter project in the hopes that it "will get the next generation of hardware out on the market, reducing the element of perceived risk and, we hope, clearing the way for us to pursue our own quest to find financiers who have steady nerves and other anatomical prerequisites." Until then, the developer is "working on Clang as an 'evenings and weekends' project until such time as we get funding for a more commercial-style reboot."

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cease-developmentclangcrowdfundinginvestorskickstarterneal-stephensonpcRazer-HydrasixenseSTEM-systemsubutai-corporationFri, 20 Sep 2013 21:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/12/sixense-stem-system-hits-kickstarter-funded-almost-immediately/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/12/sixense-stem-system-hits-kickstarter-funded-almost-immediately/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/12/sixense-stem-system-hits-kickstarter-funded-almost-immediately/#commentsSixense, the motion control technology company whose scientific know-how powers the Razer Hydra, launched a Kickstarter earlier today to fund the final development stages of its STEM System - a modular motion-tracking solution for VR and other gaming applications. The fundraising campaign's goal of $250,000 has already been surpassed.

Consisting of up to five wireless tracking modules ("STEMs") and a base station for charging and orientation tracking, the STEM System is designed so that STEMs can either be inserted into peripherals, or slapped into "STEM Packs," which are then strapped to whatever part of your body the game is interested in tracking. The STEM System is also backwards compatible with all games that currently support the Razer Hydra.

The technology is apparently immune to "drift," as it "does not rely on inertial sensors (gyroscopes and accelerometers) for position tracking," according to the Kickstarter. Additionally, there's no line-of-sight requirement between the STEMs and their base unit.

Backers that pledge at a high-enough level ($199 and up, depending on how many STEMs you want) should expect to receive their own STEM System in July of 2014, though there's no indication that this is when retail units will hit shelves. In fact, Kickstarter proceeds are only being used to finish development and produce enough units for backers - retail models will enter mass production "later."

Our friends over at Engadget have already had a go with a STEM System prototype, so be sure and check out their video of the experience for an in-depth look at what the dealio, yo.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kickstartermotionmotion-controlsmotion-trackingRazer-HydraSixenseSTEM-systemtechnologyVRThu, 12 Sep 2013 20:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/free-portal-2-in-motion-co-op-dlc-out-today-on-playstation-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/free-portal-2-in-motion-co-op-dlc-out-today-on-playstation-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/free-portal-2-in-motion-co-op-dlc-out-today-on-playstation-3/#comments
The PlayStation Move-powered "In Motion" expansion for Portal 2 received a free batch of DLC today on the PlayStation 3, developer Sixense Studios announced. In Motion owners can immediately access the new content by installing a patch released today on the PlayStation Network.

Sixense's "Non-Emotional Manipulation" DLC adds a co-op campaign to In Motion, allowing two players (using two PlayStation Move controllers) to team up in split-screen or online cooperative modes. Cross-play with PC players via the Portal 2 MotionPack is also supported. A patch released last year added PlayStation Move support to Portal 2's core campaign and co-op levels, though Move-specific gameplay mechanics such as Portal Surfing and Scaling are exclusive to Sixense's expansion.

Both Portal 2 and the In Motion expansion are currently on sale for 20 percent off in the PlayStation Store. PlayStation Plus members get an additional 40 percent discount off the sale price.

The Move-based 'In Motion' DLC for Portal 2 drops in 3, 2, 1 ... okay, not now, but on Tuesday, November 6 for $9.99. The full game also gets Move support on the same day.

The Sixense-developed DLC includes 20 new test chambers, as well as letting you play with the size of cubes, drag placed portals. and rotate objects. These motion-controlled features are specific to the DLC, but the patched-in Move support applies to the full game, both in single-player and co-op.

The DLC coincides with Portal 2 coming to PSN as a download, with Move support built in. The price hasn't yet been disclosed, but PlayStation Plus members can look forward to it and the In Motion DLC being 30 percent off at launch.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>in-motionmoveplaystationportal-2ps3PSNrelease-datesixensevalveThu, 01 Nov 2012 17:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/portal-2-sixense-dlc-and-actual-hydra-controllers-availabl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/portal-2-sixense-dlc-and-actual-hydra-controllers-availabl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/portal-2-sixense-dlc-and-actual-hydra-controllers-availabl/#comments
If you're excited about both motion controls and Portal 2 -- or you're so eager for more Portal 2 content that you're willing to pay $140 for it -- the new "Sixense Motion Pack" DLC is available for download on Steam, including six new levels that feature stretchable blocks.

Of course, you need the Razer Hydra motion controller device itself to be able to play this content. And you can get that through Steam, as well. No, really. You can order a controller through Steam. Who knew? The controller comes with the DLC and a free copy of Portal 2. Which you'll likely be giving away, if you're the Portal-crazed person we mentioned at the top of the post.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcmotion-controlpcportal-2razor-hydrasixensesteamvalveFri, 17 Jun 2011 11:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/05/portal-2-played-with-razers-sixense-motion-controllers/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/05/portal-2-played-with-razers-sixense-motion-controllers/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/05/portal-2-played-with-razers-sixense-motion-controllers/#comments
Sure, you come to Joystiq to see some Portal 2 -- we get it. But we've got something extra to spice things up: Portal 2 being played on the big screen live at CES 2011 with the new Razer Sixense controllers, a pair of motion-sensing sticks for PC, set to launch this year.